Fifteen arrests were made in Wairarapa in the first half of the year as a result of a nationwide police operation that targeted cannabis growers and dealers.
Detective Inspector Darrin Thomson, of Wellington, said those arrests were the result of more than 25 search warrants carried out in the region during the operation, which ran from January to June this year.
"They were part of a nationwide crackdown that was very much focused on cannabis, although obviously other substances were found as well."
The campaign resulted in police destroying more than 130,000 plants and a further 280kg of dried cannabis, with more than 2500 arrests made.
Detective Inspector Paul Berry, police manager of covert operations, said cannabis growers and dealers were likely to be feeling the pinch after six months of co-ordinated action against them.
"More importantly, we have prevented millions of dollars worth of harm by getting these drugs and the offenders off the streets."
The operation targeted both indoor and outdoor cannabis growers.
In the Wellington region, which Wairarapa is part of, 163 search warrants were issued which led to 132 arrests in the region. As well, two labs used to make methamphetamine were uncovered, although neither was in Wairarapa.